Description
This Sweet Cranberry Cream Cheese Bread is a delightful combination of tart cranberries, rich cream cheese, and a buttery sweet bread that’s perfect for breakfast, brunch, or dessert. The soft, moist bread is swirled with a luscious cream cheese filling and studded with bursts of tangy cranberries, creating a harmonious balance of flavors and textures. Whether you’re baking for the holidays, a special occasion, or just because, this festive loaf is sure to impress. It’s easy to make, wonderfully aromatic, and ideal for gifting or enjoying with a cup of coffee or tea. Slice it thick, spread a little extra butter if you like, and savor every bite of this sweet and tangy treat!
Ingredients
Scale
For the Bread:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- Zest of 1 orange (optional, for added brightness)
- 1 cup fresh or frozen cranberries, roughly chopped
- ½ cup buttermilk (or substitute with ½ cup milk + ½ tablespoon lemon juice)
- ½ cup unsalted butter, melted
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
For the Cream Cheese Filling:
- 4 oz cream cheese, softened
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg yolk
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
For Garnish (Optional):
- Powdered sugar (for dusting)
- Extra cranberries (for decoration)
Instructions
1. Preheat the Oven:
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×5-inch loaf pan and line it with parchment paper for easy removal.
2. Make the Bread Batter:
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and orange zest (if using). Stir in the chopped cranberries.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the buttermilk, melted butter, eggs, and vanilla extract. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and mix until just combined (do not overmix).
3. Prepare the Cream Cheese Filling:
- In a small bowl, beat the softened cream cheese, sugar, egg yolk, and vanilla extract until smooth and creamy.
4. Assemble the Bread:
- Spoon half of the bread batter into the prepared loaf pan and spread it evenly. Dollop the cream cheese mixture over the batter and use a knife to swirl it slightly. Top with the remaining bread batter, spreading it gently to cover the cream cheese layer.
5. Bake the Bread:
- Bake in the preheated oven for 50-60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean (some cranberry bits may stick, but no raw batter should remain). If the top browns too quickly, cover it loosely with aluminum foil.
6. Cool and Serve:
- Allow the bread to cool in the pan for 10 minutes before transferring it to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Dust with powdered sugar and garnish with extra cranberries if desired. Slice and serve as a sweet treat for breakfast, brunch, or dessert.
- Prep Time: 15 Minutes
- Cook Time: 50 Minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: American
